The

Niles Township Board has another new trustee, but they have a new hole to fill because of it.

The board voted unanimously last week to appoint August Keuhn, the chairman of the township’s parks and recreation board, the new trustee, replacing six-year veteran Ron Goodwin, who passed away Dec. 2. The parks and recreation post will be filled by appointment or in the election of 2012.

Appointing Keuhn comes less than two months after the board named Gary Conover the replacement for Michael Bailey. Bailey resigned in October amidst controversy over his pleading guilty to indecent exposure six months earlier.

Keuhn, who has served on the parks board since 2003 and is employed as the support services director for Grace Church in Granger, Ind., was selected from a field of 11 applicants.

While Conover was an easy decision given his previous four years on the township board, Treasurer Jim Ringler said this appointment was a little more difficult.

“We interviewed all the candidates this time around,” he said. “There’s merit in that.”

Ringler said Keuhn’s experience with the parks board was a big factor in the decision.

“He has some background township knowledge. The transition for August will be easier than someone who doesn’t know anything about local government,” Ringler said. “Both (Keuhn and Conover) will make fine trustees.”